The China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) unveiled the crew of upcoming Shenzhou-16 manned spaceflight mission on Monday. Veteran taikonaut Jing Haipeng, who will visit space for the fourth time during the mission set to be launched on Tuesday at 9:31 am, will serve as the mission commander and lead two fresh faces from the third […]

Scientists identified a new species of fish in the Dangqu River, a source of the Yangtze River, on Monday, bringing the total known fish species in the area from five to six, according to a recent report by the Xinhua News Agency. A member from the Changjiang River Scientific Research Institute (CRSRI) captured more than […]

As August 15 marks the first National Ecological Day and to further strengthen the judicial protection of forest resources, the Chinese Supreme People's Court issued a document on Monday, which comprehensively regulates the conviction and sentencing standards and relevant legal application issues of crimes involving destruction of forest resources, clarifying the conviction and sentencing standards […]

North Korea's first international commercial flight in three years landed in Beijing on Tuesday morning, the Global Times learned from flight information provider VariFlight.  Air Koryo flight JS151 from Pyongyang was believed to have arrived at Beijing Capital Airport at 9:17 am, according to a screenshot provided by VariFlight on Tuesday.  It was North Korean flag […]

COVID-19 is still the number one infectious disease in Beijing, said Beijing health officials on Thursday, noting that EG.5, a sublineage of the Omicron variant, is currently the dominant strain across China, accounting for over 70 percent of COVID-19 infections. According to the 33rd weekly report in 2023 released by the Beijing health commission, the […]

In a wide-ranging and compelling new book, science journalist Jo Marchant explores whether the mind can heal the body. The question is polarizing: Conventional doctors dismiss the power of the mind as New Age hooey, while alternative medicine advocates are quick to claim miracle cures for whatever ails you. The murky middle ground between these […]

Be wary, wine lovers: Climate change can muck with your merlots. By tracking the timing of French and Swiss grape harvests from 1600 through 2007, scientists have discovered that the link between high temperatures and drought conditions — a combination crucial for fine wine production — has broken down since 1980. Warm temperatures hasten grape […]

An ancient snakeskin preserves the bright green coloration of its wearer, researchers report March 31 in Current Biology. In the early 20th century, miners discovered the fossilized remains of an 11.2-million- to 8.7-million-year-old snake in northeastern Spain. Modern researchers have managed to reconstruct the snake’s coloration, thanks to the presence of skeletons of the animal’s […]

Researchers in China have edited the genes of human embryos to make cells resistant to HIV infection. It’s the second reported case of using molecular scissors called CRISPR/Cas9 to alter genes in human embryos. In the new work, published April 6 in the Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics, the researchers snipped a gene called […]

Iron, says aging expert Naftali Raz, is like the Force. It can be good or bad, depending on the context. When that context is the human brain, though, scientists wrangle over whether iron is a dark force for evil or a bright source of support. Some iron is absolutely essential for the brain. On that, […]